Category Archives: Uncategorized

Candy Corn Witch Hat

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When I was a kid, candy corns were one of my favorite Halloween treats. They made awesome vampire fangs 😂 So it’s no wonder I used them to make a witch’s hat.

For this project I recommend getting clay candy corns. You can use real ones and coat them in Mod Podge, but they won’t last whereas the clay ones will. If you want to get even more creative you could make them yourself 😊

This is a fun and easy Halloween Decoration to make for your home and is great for kids too.

For this Project you will need:

  • Large Paper Mache Witch Hat (about 12 inches tall)
  • Acrylic Paints: Folk Art School Bus Yellow and Black
  • Clay Candy Corns
  • 18″ white netting
  • Black Pom-poms: 1 large and 1 small
  • 2 small wiggle eyes
  • 2 Yellow/Orange Chenille Stems Pipe Cleaners 
  • Letter Rubber Stamps
  • Staz On Stone Gray Ink
  • Small Orange Boa, 18-24 inches long depending on your hat
  • Sponge brushes (makes painting big sections faster)
  • Aleene’s Tacky Glue
  • Glue Gun
  • Scissors
  • Wire cutters
  • 1/2″ flat brush
  • Clean water, paper towels, wax-coated paper plates for paint palette
  • Mod Podge: Matte for sealing (optional)

Instructions

  1. Basecoat the top of your witch hat in black paint using the 1/2″ brush. Apply 2-3 coats and let dry in between coats.
  2. Basecoat the bottom and inside of the hat with 1 coat of the black paint using the 1/2″ brush. Let dry.
  3. Basecoat the rim of the hat, on top in yellow paint using the 1/2″ brush. Apply 2-3 coats and let dry in between coats.
  4. Using the glue gun, randomly glue candy corns around the top of the hat.
  5. Stamp you letters around onto the rim of the hat. If you’re not going to seal your hat with Mod Podge go to Step 8.
  6. (Optional) Using your sponge brush apply a coat of Matte Mod Podge to the entire hat to seal it. Let dry. Once dry you can apply a second coat of Mod Podge if you so desire.
  7. (Optional) Apply 1 coat of Mod Podge to the bottom and inside of the hat. Let dry      
  8. For the spider, glue the small pom-pom to the large pom-pom using tacky glue.
  9. Using wire cutters, cut five 2″ pieces of the yellow/orange pipe stem. Bundle 4 of the pieces and twist the 5th piece around the center of the bundle to hold in place. Spread out the pieces and shape your spider legs. Cut off any excess.
  10. Glue your spider body to the legs with tacky glue. Next glue the wiggle eyes to the front of the small pom-pom. Let dry.
  11. Apply a generous amount of tacky glue to the inner seam of the hat where it meets the rim. Wrap your boa around the hat and cut off any excess. Let dry.
  12. Cut a 12″ piece of netting and tie the center into a knot. Apply tacky glue to the tip of the hat and place the center of the knot over the hat. Let dry.
  13. Gently insert the spider fee into the netting holes and you’re done!

Hope you enjoy making this fun Candy Corn Witch Hat🎃 Thanks for stopping by!!

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Candy Corn Witch Hat

Poppies Mixed Media Art

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I thought I’d share with you today one of my older pieces of art I created a while ago from a tutorial in Zendoodle Magazine which sadly isn’t published anymore. It was a beautiful publication with eye catching designs and tutorials I really enjoyed.

This mixed media art was made using collaged tissue paper which is a medium that’s such fun to use. To this day this is still one of my favorite pieces of art for many reasons. I love the bright colors, texture, doodles and overall design. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Flowers are like friends, they bring color to your world.” ~Gerard De Nerval

Inchie Challenge – Part 3

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Almost done with my studio, thank goodness. This is the end of the Inchie Challenge. It was quite fun creating these little 2×2″ pieces of art. I’m sad it came to an end but I plan on continuing the practice.

I hope you enjoyed coming along on this journey with me. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!!

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These are all of my creations:

Destination Key West

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I recently had the pleasure of visiting Key West, Florida the southernmost point in the continental USA and also the westernmost island connected by highway in the Florida Keys. There are more than 800 Florida Keys stretching over 180 miles but only 43 of them are inhabited. The island of Key West is fairly small running 4 miles long and about 1 mile wide.

In 1912 Henry Flagler built his railroad down into Key West connecting it to the mainland. Sadly on September 3rd 1935, Key West was hit by one of the most powerful hurricanes to date, “the Labor Day Storm” and it washed the railroad away which cost Flagler $20 million dollars to build. The railroad was never rebuilt but instead was replaced with a highway.

The scenic drive into Key West on the 110 mile Overseas Highway is simply spectacular! On your drive you’ll enjoy the natural coastal beauty as you cross a total of 42 bridges including the infamous 7 mile bridge which is my favorite. There are plenty of great restaurants, shops and art boutiques to stop at along the way.

There are a lot of interesting sites to visit in Key West including the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, a must see, showcasing artifacts and treasures from the Atocha. President Truman’s Little White House with guided tours and lots of US history. The legendary novelist, Ernest Hemingway resided in Key West and did a lot of his writing in his home which is now open for tours and home to about 60 cats. But keep in mind these are just a few of the fun places to visit while in Key West, there are plenty more.

I’ve saved the best for last as the sunsets in Key West are simply breathtaking. If you do nothing else but take a sunset cruise you won’t be disappointed. You’ll be in awe as you enjoy Mother Nature at her finest while cruising the ocean, there’s nothing quite like it!

I hope you enjoyed this little travel review and are able to visit the Florida Keys some day. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset.” ~Richie Norton

All photos taken by Maria Vidaurre

Believe in you Journal Pages

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Sometimes I like to create small pieces of art like these tags. I normally don’t have an immediate need for them, but I enjoy the creation process. I end up putting these small artsy pieces in a box for later use. The fun happens when I go my stash box and pick out pieces to create journal pages like these.

You end up working backwards starting with the colors in your ephemera and then picking a background color that complements it. This is a fun way to create journal pages even if you’re short on time.

Hope these pages inspire you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Mission Organization

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Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

Imagine going to the library and the books are randomly placed on the shelves. You’d get frustrated because you can’t find what you’re looking for. If you were the person in charge of getting new books for the library you wouldn’t know which books to add because you don’t know what’s already there.

We all have a tendency of acquiring “stuff” that seems to pile up and multiply all on it’s own if we don’t tend to it. Maybe we’re just not an organizer by nature or we’ll get to it later but then later never comes. All this “stuff” stops the flow of energy causing you to become unhappy, stressed and lose clarity to name a few.

I’m getting ready to do the floors in my studio. It’s something I’ve been putting off but needs to get done. I’m not looking forward to packing everything up because I have a lot of art supplies I use. On the other hand this is going to force me to really look at what I have and ask “do I really need this, does it bring me happiness.”

I wanted to get some new ideas and a fresh outlook to organizing my studio so I purchased a book by Desha Peacock, “Your Creative Work Space” which is available on Amazon.

I started reading the book and love it so far. Desha shares examples of creative work spaces from different people in different professions. She also shares her wisdom for organizing your sacred space and keeping that way. I’m already very excited to put some of her ideas to use and create better energy flow in my studio.

I’m not sure how this is going to work out but I’ll do my best to keep posting and sharing the happy with everyone. Wish me luck 😅

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

Nebula Art Journaling

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I’m having fun playing with my watercolors and trying new things like this nebula which I painted in my 5.5″ x 8″ Strathmore Watercolor Journal. The picture below was the start of my inspiration but then there were quite a few photos I liked and I had a hard time choosing just one. So I ended up combining different things from each one and putting it into this painting.

Although it didn’t go as planned I really like this color combination and it was lots of fun creating it. But I think I have a bit more experimenting to do. What I love about painting is it’s very fulfilling. When you finish a painting it gives you a sense of accomplishment and that’s wonderful feeling!

What do you like to do that gives you a feeling of accomplishment?

I hope you’re enjoying your 4th of July weekend! Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.” ~Unknown

Thoughtful Thursday Scary Truth about Rabies Vaccine

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Cocoa

I was horrified when I found out the adverse affects of rabies vaccine on my girls. Most vets give you the option of a 1 year or 3 year rabies vaccine. The majority of pet owners opt for the 1 year vaccine because it’s cheaper and they think their pet is getting a lower dose.

But here’s what you don’t know. The dosage for the 1 year and 3 year are the same. The reason is because the vaccine will stay in your dog’s body for about 3 years. So if you’re getting annual rabies shots you’re basically overdosing on the vaccine.

Adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine can be mild like swelling, lethargy, or vomiting or they can be much more severe. Reactions can show up shortly after getting vaccinated or over a period of time and can cause permanent damage. Dogs Naturally Magazine has a good article online that outlines 65 ways the vaccine can harm your dog including cancers, seizures, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases and so much more.

Sadly I didn’t find out about this until it was too late. I had Cocoa vaccinated annually her entire life. She had the energy and vigor of a young dog until she got her last required vaccine. Within 3 months of getting vaccinated, her health rapidly declined and she passed away within a year.

I miss her a lot but at least now I know how detrimental the vaccine is to dogs so I won’t make the same mistake again. I don’t want you to take my word for it, but do your own research as scary as it may be. Your pup will thank you!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“65 Ways Rabies Vaccination Can Harm Your Dog” by Dogs Naturally Magazine

Rosie at 9 weeks old

Thoughtful Thursday Finding your Purpose

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Photo by Dom Gould on Pexels.com

It seems that as human beings we are on a perpetual path of finding our purpose. Why am I here is a very big and important question we ask ourselves. Yet some of us feel the search is pointless because we feel we’ll never find the answer. I’ve been traveling on this path for quite some time now and this is what I’m realizing.

Each of us is absolutely unique, much more than we ever could imagine. And we bring our own uniqueness into the world to share with others. Even though the gift we bring may seem small to us, it can be monumental and life changing to some one else.

I’m also finding that our purpose can change as we grow and evolve spiritually. Nothing is set in stone. You may start with a strong passion for something and travel one path, only to find that your passion fizzles and you embark on a new path with just as much passion as the first. It doesn’t mean you got it wrong, but only that you’ve fulfilled your purpose and are now ready to move on.

You’ll know if you’re on the wrong path when everything in your mind and body just feels off, like something isn’t right. I’ve learned that you need to follow your heart and do what makes you happy. Share your special gifts with the world in a positive way and your heart, mind and soul will feel fulfilled!

Have a lovely day, thanks for stopping by!!

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Thoughtful Thursday Sound

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Your body is made up of 70% water making it a great conductor for sound. Different sounds can affect the body in a positive or negative way. It can affect our moods and emotions. It can even transport us to another time and place if we let it.

Some people need a good glass of wine at the end of the day to release the stress from their bodies. I like to listen to calming music while keeping my eyes closed and focusing on each sound as I drift to an inner peaceful place.

Even everyday sounds can have a calming effect on us. Like hearing small children laugh and play, birds singing, breezes rustling leaves in trees, waves rolling in on the seashore or rain drops hitting the roof. Whatever sound calms you, try listening to it more especially at the end of the day when you need to unwind.

I love to fall asleep to nature CD’s by Dan Gibson’s Solitudes which are available on Amazon. The Solitudes CD’s offer a variety of nature sounds beautifully mixed with instruments creating a calming and serene atmosphere. There are a lot of different nature CD’s on the market but Solitudes has always been a favorite of mine.

I highly recommend listening to some type of calming nature music when you need to unwind and destress or as you fall to sleep. It does wonders for the mind, body and soul. Hope this helps you to relax and unwind.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Listen to the sound of the waves within you.” ~Rumi

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Press play to listen to the ocean 🌊